The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-07-14

THE BATTERY PARK HOTEL AElTvERsARY.
A year ago on Tuesday tH doors of
this fine hotel were thrown efs;to- busi-
ness. There was the smell Ct fish paints,
and the painters were still puhiEg their
way through the curious crowd OF guests
and visitors. The sound of th hammer
and the rasping of saw and II bdoroas
curls of shayings gave remindF that all
was not done. But order wasFrng nggling
with chaos, and when eveninaame the
electric lights threw radiant )fS over
the large and elegant dining rda and a
party of gentlemen, some of tim Of nas
tional fame, sat down to a tabll lte which
the masteries and the mystetse of the
cuisine were summoned to do # ssSonor to.
the opening of the new palatiatletel.
Tuesday, a year had passed Nay; and
the anniversary was hailed as Fl t1aeasion
70 rejoice in the success of the Eald ex-
pertinent of introducing such al iiistitu-
ton here; of the transplanting il fact the
highest ideal of the northernSll Slleasure
resorts, stimulated by wealth an Sury
to exotic exuberance into a s@4k flose
most favored growth had beed Fort
and convenience. It had beer sss
and the protector he e9,,,5s z
& Is5s ;.ss5o,,s Fchange th~s.ss9'
a dinner with 0,e,..y yt1lat WousSH,' '!s,t
nave been out of pleSe at tables to which
all the aidsand as of culinary skill, and
all richest sfOres of the most luxurious
markets had been brought, delighted
with its elegance, its excellence and its
abundance And then there was long
hiatus until the darkness came: and the
electric lights flashed out their sIlendor,
and the long lines of chinese lanterns
danced in gorgeous richness ofiight hung
from the long galleries and piazzas, and
the summer houses blazed out as airy
fabrics of the fancy; and then. with its
thousand beacon and welcome fires, the
Battery Park Hotel awaiting the coming
of the eager throngs.
Entering the ample hall the scene was
not less brilliant. Incandescent lights
glowed like stars in the summer sky, and
through the open doors was disclosed the
long vista of the splendid ball room with
its lines Of pendent chandeliers, under
which were whirling in the lively dance
the happy parties who threaded the
mazes of the figures of the dance. Along
the wall on either side of the room were
seated spectators to the beauties or tine
pleasures of the floor. 1t was large and
a splendid gathering of beauty and grace
and worth; and it was splendid in the
display of feminine loveliness and femin-
inc taste and richness of toilet. Jenkins
might weave romantic recital of colors
and styles of costume that might enTap-
ture milliner. For ourselves we were
sufficiently delighted, though bewildered
with the Kaleidoscope brilliancy Of the
picture that we lost particulars in the
general effect; and we were not bold en-
ough to ask any of the fair ones to stand
for her picture, or give Us the cabalistic
mysteries of ball room "get up"
About half past II, the guests were
ushered into the dining rooms where an
elegant and delicate repast was served,
fit companion to the recherche dinner,
and then we departed, leaving
the young folks to renew the dance to
the music of the most excellent and in
spiriting music.